Steam iron



ilnited States Patent Q STEAM IRON Merrill Miller Kistner, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Original application March 23, 1954, Serial No. 418,068,

new Patent No. 2,825,157, dated March 4, 1958. Dizi7d7ed 23nd this application August 13, 1957, Serial No.

4 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to steam irons and is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 418,068, filed March 23, 1954.

In steam irons of the type described and claimed in my prior Patent 2,384,839, granted September 18, 1945, the water supply is contained in a reservoir from which it is delivered, drop by drop, to a steam generating chamber in the sole-plate when the iron is in use. Although such irons have many advantages over other known types of steam irons, the reservoir does require periodic filling and this is objectionable to some users. Utilization of steam irons to the fullest extent has thus been prevented by this objection to the necessity of refilling the reservoir.

In another type of steam iron, the device is connected to a source of water or steam by a flexible conduit. Where water is supplied, it is delivered directly to that portion of the iron in which it is vaporized. Such constructions are used principally in irons for tailer shops, pressing establishments and the like as distinguished from domestic irons. The necessity of opening or closing a valve every time the iron is put in use, or when ironing is discontinued, even temporarily, has kept such devices from becoming popular in the domestic field.

In the present invention the iron is provided with a reservoir from which water is fed to the steam generating chamber as in the iron of my prior patent. However, instead of periodically filling this reservoir, it is filled from a tap or other source by means of a flexible conduit. The iron thus has the advantages of the iron of my prior patent without the objection most frequently voiced by domestic users of steam irons.

Furthermore, the substantially constant supply of water in the reservoir assures more even flow of water from the reservoir to the steam generating chamber in the soleplate. In an iron in which the reservoir is periodically filled, the amount of water contained in the reservoir varies whilethe iron is in use, and the water is being fed to the steam generating chamber to be converted into steam. This causes variation in the amount of Water fed to the steam generating chamber. When the water supply is nearly depleted, the flow is less in quantity and has a tendency to be irregular. However, with water constantly supplied to the reservoir to maintain a substantially constant amount of water in the reservoir, the delivery of water to the steam generating chamber is constant and even in flow.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of a steam iron embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view of the rear of the reservoir showing the float, and float controlled valve; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the iron comprises a soleplate 1, which may be of any suitable construction ineluding a steam generating chamber (not shown), for vaporizing water fed to it, and means for delivering the steam thus formed through outlets (not shown) in the bottom of the sole-plate to the material being ironed. The sole-plate may advantageously be of the construction shown in my prior patent, referred to above. A cover plate 2 is arranged over that portion of the sole-plate in which the grooves are formed. This cover plate and grooves in the sole-plate form interconnected channels through which steam flows from the steam generating chamber to the steam outlets or discharge ports in the face of the sole-plate. The cover plate is provided with an opening which is positioned over the steam generating chamber of the sole-plate when the iron is assembled. A dome 3 surrounds this opening, the dome being cast with the cover plate, or secured to it by brazing, or in any other suitable manner. A nut 4 is secured to dome 3 by brazing or in any other suitable way.

Immediately over the sole-plate, I provide a spacer shell 5. This shell consists of a plate which is shaped to conform to the contour of the sole-plate. It is provided with a flange 8 extending downwardly toward the soleplate. As shown, this flange terminates above the soleplate providing a space 9 through which air enters the area between the sole-plate and the spacer plate. Adjacent the top of the flange 8, I provide a plurality of spaced slits 9'. Air entering the area over the sole-plate through the space 9 may escape through these slits, and thus dissipate heat which would otherwise flow from the soleplate to the reservoir of the iron.

A second spacer shell 17 is arranged. over spacer shell 5. The two shells are generally similar, the second shell consisting of a plate having a peripheral flange 19 which conforms to the contour of the assembled iron. The bottom of flange 19 is spaced from shell 5, as shown at 20, to permit entrance of air, and this shell is provided with openings or slits 20 near the top through which the air is exhausted.

A reservoir 26 is arranged partly within the shells and partially above them, the reservoir being substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section. As shown, the reseervoir consists of an upper section 27 and a lower section 28. These sections are provided with flanges 29 having openings therein. Bolts or other suitable fastening elements 31 are passed through the aligned openings and secure the two halves of the reservoir to each other. Suitable gaskets may be placed between the flanges to prevent leakage of water from the reservoir. While I contemplate maintaining a substantially constant amount of water in reservoir 26 by means of a connection to a faucet or other source of supply as hereinafter described, I also provide means for manually filling the reservoir if the iron is used in a place where a faucet is not available. For this purpose an internally threaded sleeve 32 is arranged in one wall of the reservoir. As shown, it projects upwardly at an angle from the front wall 33. A cap 34 is received in this sleeve.

As shown, the upper section 27 of the reservoir is preferably rectangular in cross-section. It is received within the lower portion of a handle 35 of the erasertype. By that I mean that the handle consists of a handengaging upper portion 36 and portions 37 which extend downwardly on each side and at the front and back of the reservoir to a point slightly above upper shell 17. The hand-engaging portion 36 is wider than the depending portions 37 forming indentations for the reception of the thumb on one side and the fingers on the other, with the palm of the hand in engagement with the upper surface.

An externally threaded valve member 50 is received in nut 4. A valve rod 52 extends through the reservoir and has a valve at its lower end which cooperates with asserts the valve seat to control the flow of water from the reservoir through the tubular valve member 5-01 to the steam generating chamber in the sole-plate. The valve assembly also serves to secure the reservoir and spacer shells to the sole-plate at the front of the iron. As shown, the valve member has a head 54 which engages a depressed portion 55 in the bottom of the reservoir surrounding the opening through which the valve member passes. A suitable gasket may be arranged between head 54 and the bottom of the reservoir to prevent leakage. The exterior of the valve member is provided with a groove which receives a split ring. Head 54 is provided with a slot 57 for the reception of a screw driver or other tool in assembling and disassembling the parts.

Access to the interior of the reservoir is obtained through an opening in the top which opening receives threaded cap 61. The cap is provided with an opening through which a rod 53 extends. This rod is connected to valve rod 52 by a coil spring 59, preferably formed of stainless steel.

Above the reservoir the rod 58 is connected to a suitable valve control mechanism. Provision of the two rods 52 and 58 connected by the flexible member 59 provides a structure in which the valve aligns with the valve seat much better than in prior constructions in which a single, rigid member extends from the control and has a valve formed on its lower end.

The top of the reservoir may be provided with a pair of guides to receive the thermostat control member 71. This member is provided with a knob or button '76 which extends through a slot 77 in the upper surface of the handle to permit the control member to be adjusted. The lower face of the control member is provided with a series of steps 78 forming a cam. This cam engages thermostat rod 79 which extends through a sleeve 80 in the reservoir to a thermostat 81 in the sole-plate. Raising or depressing rod 79 by movement of control 71 thus sets the temperature at which the thermostat operates as is usual in the construction of domestic irons. Suitable indicia on the handle adjacent slot 77 indicates the temperature settings corresponding to various positions of the knob 76.

In using a steam iron, it is advantageous to increase the amount of water delivered to the sole-plate as the temperature of the iron is increased. In ironing heavier fabrics both higher temperatures and a greater supply of water is necessary than with the thinner fabrics, particularly the synthetics. At the present time, the user is not generally able to regulate the quantity of steam, because the irons in use provide only an on" or off setting. With a valve of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 346,590 (now Patent No. 2,775,- 681, granted December 25, 1956) the flow of water can be regulated. By using a valve of such construction in the iron of this application, I cannot only regulate the flow of water, but I also provide means to correlate it to the temperature setting. As shown, an arm 82 is secured to rod 58. This arm, when it is in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is in alignment with thermostat control member 71. The thermostat control member has a cam 83 on its upper surface. As this cam member engages arm 82 by forward movement of control member 71, the arm and the valve mechanism is raised thus raising the valve from its seat. A screw 84 may be arranged in arm 82 to be engaged by the cam. This permits initial adjustment of the valve operating mechanism to obtain proper valve openings for various temperature settings. Above arm 82, rod 58 is received in a plastic member 85. This plastic member is arranged in an opening in the upper surface of the handle. Above the handle it forms a knob 86. At times the user wishes to use the iron as a dry iron. At such times, the knob 86 is turned to rotate the valve mechanism. This in turn rotates arm 82 in recess 72 to bring the arm out of the path of the control member 71.

4 Movement of control member with the arm in such position has no effect on the valve mechanism. The surface of the handle adjacent knob 86 is provided with suitable indicia, such as the words Wet and Dry to indicate when arm 82 is in position to cause opening of the valve by the control member 71.

Rod 58 is surrounded by spring 153 arranged between cap 61 and a collar 159 on the rod. When the rod is raised to open the valve, the spring is placed under compression. When arm 82 is out of the path of thermostat control 71, this spring maintains the valve in closed position.

As stated, the iron is not only capable of manually filling through tubular opening 32 but it is also provided with means for maintaining a constant supply of water in the reservoir when a source of water is available and it is intended primarily to be used in this manner. The rear wall of the reservoir has an opening which is closed by a fitting 37. The fitting may be secured to the rear wall to close the opening by screws or bolts 88. The bolts pass through openings in a plate 88 of the fitting and aligned openings in the rear wall of the reservoir. The fitting is in the form of an inverted L. The horizontal arm 8% has a bore 90 communicating with the interior of the reservoir. A valve seat 91 is formed in the end of this bore. A bracket 92 is mounted on the face of the fitting adjacent the valve seat. Float 93 in the reservoir is pivotally mounted in the bracket, a suitable pivot pin passing through an opening in the bracket and through a sleeve 94 formed in an arm 95 which is connected to the float. The other end of arm 95 is connected to valve 96. The valve may be provided with a groove 97 to receive arm 95. Valve 96 cooperates with seat 91. As shown, when the float moves upwardly, the valve moves toward a closed position and when the water level in the reservoir reaches a predetermined level, the valve is closed to cut off the supply of water.

Bore 90 in the horizontal leg of fitting 87 communicates with a bore 98 in the vertical leg of the fitting. The lower end of bore 98 is connected to a bore 99, which is parallel to bore 98. These bores are connected by a cross passage 100 at the bottom of the fitting. Upper end of bore 99 [is connected to a bore 101 which extends toward one side, and is enlarged and threaded to receive the hose connection (not shown) by means of which water is delivered from the faucet.

In the use of steam irons of this type, the flow of water from the reservoir to the sole-plate is automatically cut off when the iron is placed on its heel, as when the user is replacing the article on the ironing board, turning it, or interrupts the actual ironing operation for any other reason. It is, therefore, necessary to provide means for cutting olf the supply of water not only when it reaches a predetermined level with the iron in the normal ironing position, but also when the iron is up-ended and no water is being delivered from the reservoir. For this purpose cross bore 100 is reduced adjacent its end to form a valve seat 102. The bore is also threaded with relatively coarse threads. A valve member 103 is mounted in this bore and is threaded to engage the threads in the bore. Member 103 extends beyond the fitting and is provided with a knurled portion 104. This knurled portion is received in la knurled opening 105 in a weighted pendulum 106. Normally the pendulum is in the inclined position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings and valve 103 is open. When the iron is tip-ended, the pendulum swings in a clock-wise direction. Engagement of the threads on valve member 103 with the threads of bore 100 causes the valve to move far enough to bring the valve into position on seat 102 which cuts off the flow of water. The position of the weighted pendulum is such that when the iron is moved to ironing position, it will swing back to the position shown in Fig. 3, and open valve 103. Then while ironing continues, the flow of water is controlled by valve 96.

The iron may be used as a steam iron or a dry iron and it is not necessary to empty the reservoir when it is to be used as a dry iron. It may also be manually filled through tubular sleeve 32 when no source of water is available, or through the hose connection, which is the preferred way, when a faucet or other source of supply is available. The interconnected thermostat and valve control results in a proper supply of steam for the temperature setting that is being used and better ironing of diflerent fabrics results. The two piece reservoir may be die cast or otherwise fabricated, and is much simpler to produce than the reservoir heretofore used in which the bottom is a separate piece and has to be secured to the body of the reservoir.

The bores 98 and 99 are drilled from the bottom of the fitting 87. A screw 110 is placed in the end of "bore 98 which is enlarged and threaded to receive the screw. The head of the screw seals the ends of these bores. A gasket may be arranged under the head of the screw as shown.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 418,068 filed March 23, 1954 (now Patent No. 2,825,157, granted March 4, 1958).

I claim:

1. In an electric steam iron of the type which comprises a sole-plate having heating means, a water reservoir over the sole-plate, the sole-plate having channels for the flow of fluid and outlet openings in its lower surface, the sole-plate also having a steam-generating chamber, and valve controlled means for delivering water from the reservoir to the generating chamber in the soleplate, a flexible conduit connected to the reservoir to supply water to the reservoir from a source of supply, a valve controlling the flow of water through the conduit, and a weighted member connected to the valve and positioned to retain the valve in an open position when the iron is in ironing position, the weighted member moving through an are when the iron is up-ended to rotate the valve to a closed position.

2. In an electric steam iron of the type which comprises a sole-plate having heating means, a water reservoir over the sole-plate, the sole-plate having channels for the flow of fluid and outlet openings in its lower surface, the sole-plate also having a steam-generating chamber, and valve controlled means for delivering water from the reservoir to the generating chamber in the sole-plate, a flexible conduit connected to the reservoir to supply water to the reservoir from a source of supply, a pair of valves in the conduit, a float connected to one of said valves to close it when the liquid in the reservoir reaches a predetermined level, and a weighted member connected to the second valve, the weighted member being constructed to move through an are when the iron is tip-ended and close said second valve.

3. In an electric steam iron lot the type which comprises a sole-plate having heating means, a Water reservoir over the sole-plate, the sole-plate having channels for the flow of fluid and outlet openings in its lower surface, the sole-plate also having a steam-generating chamber, and valve controlled means for delivering water from the reservoir to the generating chamber in the soleplate, a flexible conduit connected to the reservoir to supply water to the reservoir from a source of supply, a valve controlling the flow of water through the conduit, a rotatable member mounted on the valve, said member being constructed to assume one position to open the valve when the iron is in ironing position, and to rotate to a second position and closing the valve when the iron is up-ended.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 in which the valve includes a threaded member mounted in a bore, and in which the rotatable member is mounted on the valve member to rotate the valve member in the bore when the iron is up-ended.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,593,898 Brewer July 27, 1926 2,038,223 Kittler Apr. 21, 1936 2,501,028 Charland Mar. 21, 1950 2,518,339 Landon Aug. 8, 1950 2,609,625 Bate Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 290,596 Germany Mar. 9, 1916 

